Adaptor for contacting card-shaped supports

Abstract

An adaptor for contacting a card-shaped support, having electronic components connected thereto, to a PCMACIA-standard connector of a computing unit has a housing shaped as a computer expansion card having opposed first and second end faces and opposed longitudinal sides connecting the first and second end faces. The housing has an insertion slot at the first end face for receiving the card-shaped support. The housing has a plug-in contact at the second end face of opposite the insertion slot. The printed ciruit board is mounted in the housing. It is electrically connected to the plug-in contact. The printed circuit board includes contact elements for contacting the electronic components of the card-shaped support. A first one of the longitudinal sides has an open portion adjacent to the first end face. A second one of the longitudinal sides has an opening allowing insertion of the card-shape support into the housing in a plane of the housing and angled to the longitudinal sides.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adaptor for contacting a card-shaped support, having electronic components connected thereto, to a PCMCIA-standard connector of a computing unit, said adaptor comprised of: a housing shaped as a computer expansion card having first and second end faces opposed to one another and parallel longitudinal sides opposed to one another and connected to said first and second end faces;   said housing having an insertion slot at said first end face for receiving the card-shaped support;   said housing having a PCMCIA plug-in contact at said second end face opposite said insertion slot;   a printed circuit board mounted in said housing;   said printed circuit board electrically connected to said PCMCIA plug-in contact;   said printed circuit board comprising contact elements for contacting the electronic components of the card-shaped support;   a first one of said longitudinal sides having an open portion adjacent to said first end face;   a second one of said longitudinal sides having an opening in the vicinity of said first end face, wherein said open portion and said opening allow insertion of the card-shaped support into said housing in a plane of said housing and at a slant to said parallel longitudinal sides such that the card-shaped support is able to penetrate said opening.   
     
     
       2. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a top and a bottom and wherein said bottom in the area of said open portion projects past said top to form a lower lip. 
     
     
       3. An adaptor according to claim 2, wherein said lower lip has at least one clamping projection. 
     
     
       4. An adaptor according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said bottom and said top has a recessed portion adjacent to said plug-in contact. 
     
     
       5. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein said second longitudinal side has a lateral, widened portion adjacent to said first end face, wherein said lateral widened portion is positioned between said first end face and said opening and wherein said lateral widened portion provides lateral guiding for the card-shaped support inserted at a slant. 
     
     
       6. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein said lateral widened portion and said open portion are spaced at a same distance to said second end face. 
     
     
       7. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein said opening extends from said lateral, widened portion to said recessed portion. 
     
     
       8. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein said opening ends at an upper edge of said bottom. 
     
     
       9. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein said opening preferably has a height matching a height of said insertion slot. 
     
     
       10. An adaptor according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of said insertion slot is preferably flush with an upper end of said bottom.